1) During the middle Brachos of Shemona Esrei it is permissible to add personal requests within their corresponding Bracha.
For example, if someone wants to request of Hashem to help him/her with Parnassah, the place to ask for that is in the Bracha of "Bareich Aleinu". If one wants to daven for a special dose of "knowledge or understanding", the place to add such a Tefilah is in the Bracha of "Ata Chonen L’Adam Da’as".
Other requests, which aren’t related to any particular Bracha, may not be added to any Brachos of Shemona Esrei except for during "Shema Koleinu" when one may add any requests.
Although it is permitted to daven for anything during "Shema Koleinu", the ideal place to add additional Tefilos [when davening B’Tzibbur] is after saying [the first]"YihYu L’Ratzon" right before "Elokai Netzor" , (and for those who follow the Gaon of Vilna and do not say the first YihYu L’Ratzon, the Tefilos should be added before the YihYu L’Ratzon, immediately before taking three steps back at the end of Shemona Esrei.)
The reason for the aforementioned Halacha is so you will be able to answer Kadish and/or Kedusha if that part of davening is reached by the Tzibbur while you still didn’t finish your Shemona Esrei. (This reason doesn’t apply when davening B’Yechidus, and thus when davening alone it is indeed better to add personal requests by Shma Koleinu- See Siddur Ya’avetz and Mishna Berura Siman 122:8)
2) When adding personal requests to a Bracha of Shemona Esrei, they should be added after the regular text of the Bracha was recited, but before finishing the entire Bracha.
Similarly, it is permitted to add requests on behalf of the Tzibbur (public at large) during the Brachos of Shemona Esrei, in the manner described above.
Reader’s Question:
Thanks so much for the Halacha Yomi emails!!
I have heard people who make it a point to articulate (out loud) the zayin sound in the words of the last paragraph of the 3 paragraphs of shma. (i.e. "Lma’an TiZk’ru.....Asher Atem ZZZZonim achareihem...").
If I’m alone I do it, but in shul, it’s very quiet in the women’s section during tefilah -- and I’m a little embarrassed when I annunciate my "ZZZ" in those words -- is it true that I am really supposed to, or is just a nice idea?
My Answer
Yes, you are really supposed to stress the "Zayin" of "Tizkiru" so it should not sound like a "Samach", and thus change the word, and furthermore change the meaning of the word. This is an open Halacha in Shulchan Aruch (Hilchos Krias Shema, Siman 61:17) and not just a minhag or Chumra. (Incidentally, the Halacha only mentions "Tizkiru" and doesn’t mention the "Atem Zonim", as by Atem Zonim, it is easier to be said properly even quietly)
That being said, if you are in a a quiet Ezras Nashim, you can try to do it quietly, without any fanfare and still be able to accomplish your goal of saying it correctly.
May hashem bless you for doing the right thing, even at times when it is difficult or seemingly embarrassing. As a matter of fact, when you do what Hashem wants in difficult or embarrasing situations, your Schar (heavenly reward) is multiplied!
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
